GREAT NECK, NY -- Approximately one million angioplasties, one of the most common cardiac procedures, are performed in the United States each year. The minimally invasive angioplasty procedure, used to clear blocked arteries, is performed by a cardiologist who threads a thin tube, called a catheter, through blood vessels that provide blood to the heart, and uses a balloon or other device attached to the tip of the catheter to widen the arteries that have been narrowed.

There are two procedures now used to accomplish a successful angioplasty, the femoral approach through the groin and the radial approach through the wrist. Each procedure presents medical advantages and disadvantages to the patient, who must first be evaluated as the best candidate for either procedure.  The femoral approach has been widely used by cardiologists because the femoral artery in the groin has larger blood vessels than the wrist’s radial artery. In terms of lowering complications to the patient, a recent major study has shown that going through the wrist can lower the risk of bleeding by nearly 60 percent. Bleeding is more common with the groin method and occurs in 2-10 percent of patients.

While the majority of cardiologists are still taught the traditional or the more commonly accepted femoral approach through the leg, Barry Kaplan, MD, director of the catheterization laboratories at LIJ Medical Center, opts for the wrist procedure. “While learning this procedure takes more of the surgeon’s time because of the steep learning curve associated with the approach, with a dedicated effort it can be widely adopted and universally accepted,” said Dr. Kaplan.

In a 2008 report on angioplasty outcomes, the New York State Department of Health (DOH)  had the best success rate in the state, with outcomes that were significantly better than the statewide average. In a 2009 report, the DOH found that North Shore University Hospital had the state’s best outcomes for emergency angioplasty.  

To learn more about angioplasty, tune in to “Medical Update” this Saturday, January 9, at 11 a.m., where Dr. Kaplan will be joined by Stanley Katz, MD, senior vice president of cardiovascular services for the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Dr. Katz will offer information on new heart valve replacement surgical procedures awaiting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

Medical Update airs on WLNY-TV, which can be seen on Channel 10 on Long Island Cablevision and Verizon FiOS TV, and on Channel 55 on Time Warner Cable, DirecTV and DishTV.

Media Contact: Elaine Wohl
516-465-2600/2615
ewohl@nshs.edu